sunbets.co.uk Northern Staying Novices' Hurdle Series Final Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 6m 34.0s

Florrie Knox³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 125

5/2

Enjoying a consistent run of form over obstacles and off the mark at Market Rasen last month with an idling ½L success (2m4f+ soft). Stays further, so this trip isn't a problem. Only this trainers second ever Newcastle runner.

Form: 334331

Trixster⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 124

4/1

Held a narrow advantage when falling at the last at Chepstow in January (3m heavy) in a race won by Jammin Masters. Lightly raced, but slowly improving and with masses of stamina in his family line.

Form: 645F

Grand Morning^t⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120

9/4

Cost £68,000 as a three-year-old but is a half-brother to Edwulf and bred to stay. Not raced beyond 2m so far, but has a pair of Ayr victories (heavy) on his CV, and knows how to battle at the business end.

Form: 311

Everybody's Talkin^t⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113

6/1

Cost £65,000 in June 2017, and whilst it's still early days, it's fair to say he's been disappointing thus far. Has won a 3m point-to-point for Colin Bowe, so some ability lies within, but this needs to come to the fore.

Form: 461-674

Randy Pike^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: C R King| T: T D Easterby| OR: 112

8/1

Won twice for this trainer since leaving Nicky Richards for £20,000. Both of those successes were in lesser races over shorter trips (2m4f) and whilst he handles testing conditions, this stiff track will demand more.

Form: 8916P1

Iolani^h,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 102

16/1

Downpatrick bumper winner for Willie Mullins in May 2017 (£10,000 purchase), but not in great form since switched to these shores. Better latest (in all sorts of headgear) but could only play fourth fiddle to Henry's Joy nevertheless.

Form: F67884

Non-Runners

Henry's Joy²²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: D McCain Jnr J: W T Kennedy

Forecasts

Grand Morning (9/4), Florrie Knox (5/2), Henry's Joy (3/1), Trixster (4/1), Everybody's Talkin (6/1), Randy Pike (8/1), Iolani (16/1)

A race rescheduled from the cancelled St Patrick's Day fixture in March and with no each-way betting angle is poorly supported by trainers in the North who have cited a lack of opportunities for their horses. Florrie Knox is just a second ever Newcastle runner for Alex Hales, and he could have more in the locker after idling when scoring at Market Rasen last month. However, with trip concerns about a couple of the others including Grand Morning and Henry's Joy, the lightly raced TRIXSTER could be the solution. Still a maiden he clearly has some improvement to find, but this isn't a deep race for the prize money offered.